Convergence or divergence: next frontiers toward globalization of current- and next-generation cell and gene therapies

The last decades have seen a massive transformation in the field of advanced therapies, culminating in the marketing approval of different cutting-edge gene, cell- and tissue engineering-based therapies across different regions of the world. Although this success is promising, the global clinical development pathway of such therapies is often hindered by unique manufacturing, preclinical and clinical regulatory challenges; with different expectations, sometimes linked with divergence in opinions between international regulatory authorities. Such technologies call for a science-based approach and an early regulatory dialogue to set the key elements of quality, safety and efficacy for the next generation cell and gene therapies that can be harmonized across different regional jurisdictions, hence speeding up patient access to innovative therapies across the globe.